2980 Cameron
Discovery [1] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | S. J. Bus |
Discovery site | Siding Spring Obs. |
Discovery date | 2 March 1981 |
Designations | |
(2980) Cameron | |
Named after | Alastair Cameron [2] |
1981 EU17 · 1977 EL3 1979 SQ7 | |
main-belt | |
Orbital characteristics [1] | |
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
Observation arc | 39.87 yr (14,564 days) |
Aphelion | 3.0324 AU |
Perihelion | 2.1023 AU |
2.5673 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.1811 |
4.11 yr (1,503 days) | |
36.213° | |
0° 14m 22.56s / day | |
Inclination | 7.2772° |
172.24° | |
254.25° | |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 5.121±0.183[3] |
0.322±0.047[3] | |
13.4[1] | |
2980 Cameron, provisionally designated 1981 EU17, is a main-belt asteroid discovered by prolific American astronomer Schelte Bus at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia, on March 2, 1981. It orbits the Sun every 4.11 years at a distance of 2.1–3.0 AU.[1]
The asteroid was named after astrophysicist and cosmogonist Alastair G. W. Cameron (1925–2005), who was associate director for theoretical astrophysics at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. He was an early advocate of the concepts of a turbulent accretion disk solar nebula, and of the origin of the Moon by a giant impact on the proto-Earth. He also studied the nucleosynthesis in stars and supernovae, and the cosmic abundances of nuclides.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2980 Cameron (1981 EU17)" (2017-01-28 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- ^ a b Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). "(2980) Cameron". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2980) Cameron. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 245. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2981. ISBN 978-3-540-29925-7.
- ^ a b Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
External links
[edit]- Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
- 2980 Cameron at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
- 2980 Cameron at the JPL Small-Body Database